MX23RW : Friday, March 29 07:07:35| >> :60:964:964:
[monks data]
Attendance: 62,369
Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 28, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Alaves logo

2-1

Suarez (72'), Messi (84')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Guidetti (23')

Team News: Philippe Coutinho makes first Barcelona start against Alaves

Philippe Coutinho makes his first start for Barcelona in Sunday's La Liga meeting with Alaves at Camp Nou.

Philippe Coutinho has been handed his first start for Barcelona in Sunday's La Liga meeting with Alaves at Camp Nou.

The January signing from Liverpool made his Blaugrana debut as a substitute in the midweek 2-0 win over Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.

Ernesto Valverde has now opted to draft Coutinho into the starting XI alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for the Brazilian's first Barca appearance in the Spanish top flight, which sees the Catalans up against the struggling Basques.

Lucas Digne is picked at left-back as Jordi Alba starts on the bench, while Ivan Rakitic is selected ahead of Sergio Busquets in central midfield and Ruben Semedo is given the nod over Sergi Roberto at right-back.

Alaves, meanwhile, have placed Barca loanee Munir El Haddadi on the bench, with Celta Vigo man John Guidetti tasked by head coach Abelardo Fernandez to lead the line.

Defender Rodrigo Ely is currently suspended, giving Guillermo Maripan the chance to start at centre-back, while there is also a spot in the XI for midfielder Mubarak Wakaso.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Iniesta, Paulinho; Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Sergio, Alcacer, Alba, Roberto, Vidal, Mina

Alaves: Pacheco; Duarte, Laguardia, Maripan, Ruano; Mubarak, Medran, Pedraza, Gomez; Sobrino, Guidetti
Subs: Sivera, Martin, Vigaray, Pedraza, Munir, Dieguez, Demirovic

Follow all the action from Camp Nou with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

ID:317298: cacheID:317298:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4005:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ernesto Valverde pictured in 2016
Read Next:
Valverde "has a lot of hope" for Coutinho
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!